The first Soroptimist Club was formed in 1921 in Oakland, California, and was quickly followed by other Clubs in North America. The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror meaning sister, and optima meaning best. Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as "the best for women".

In 1924 the first Clubs in Europe were chartered - in Greater London and Paris. The idea, which germinated almost simultaneously in the Americas, in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, was the movement for "classified" executive business and professional women to associate together to render service. Even as the first Soroptimist Club came into being, the ideals and objectives of such a group were blossoming in many areas around the world.

 By 1928 there were enough Clubs in these continents to form two federations - American and European. A link between them was established by the creation of the "Soroptimist International Association" in 1928. In 1934 a third federation - Great Britain & Ireland - was formed.

By 1978 the number of countries with Soroptimist Clubs had grown to 55 and there were Clubs on every continent. They were of very different cultural and economic backgrounds, and in this year a fourth federation - South West Pacific - was established.

Since 1928, Clubs throughout the Soroptimist world have joined together for a Convention. The first was held in Washington D.C. and, apart from the war years 1939/45, have been held every four years since then. The most recent World Convention was held in Glasgow in 2007.